Adeniyi: The Man that Knows the Terrain

The Nigeria Customs Service is back in shape with the appointment of a seasoned officer for the Service


As an astute image maker for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) spanning almost two decades, many see the appointment of Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, as the Acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as indeed a positive step well calculated to reposition the service to enhance standardized international trade facilitation and earn more foreign exchange for the country. His familiarity with the terrain is not in doubt as Adeniyi was the NCS’s spokesman, serving in that capacity until January 2017 when he was redeployed to the Apapa Area Command as a Deputy Comptroller.

Until his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adeniyi was DCG in charge of Strategic Research and Policy at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja. He attained the rank of Comptroller in 2017 and appointed Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja. And in 2019, the new Acting CG was redeployed to serve as the Controller of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Lagos. The Ag. CGC took part in all Governing Council meetings of the World Customs Organisation in Brussels, Belgium between 2010 and 2019.

He had the privilege of working closely with many past CGCs, a rare opportunity that analysts anticipated will help to create an enabling environment for trade facilitation, with priority on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

His profile indicated that Adeniyi was promoted to the rank of Assistant Comptroller General in February 2020 shortly after he supervised the seizure of $8.07 million cash being illegally taken out of Nigeria through the E-Wing of the International Airport tarmac. He was thereafter posted to head the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja as Commandant.

Journalists who worked closely with him in his career of over 30 years and counting agreed that the Ag. CGC has strong command of customs regulations, laws, and procedures, as well as, the ability to navigate and adapt to changing policies and regulations. Equipped with experience, excellent communication and leadership skills, he has been heading teams of customs officials, working closely with stakeholders in various industries, interacting with manufacturers, exporters and importers of variety goods. These exploits in the service singled him out by former President Muhammadu Buhari, on October 11, 2022 and conferred on him the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

As the right man for the job, with a wealth of over 30 years’ experience in Customs Administration covering Strategic and operational responsibilities as well as a deep understanding of the complex and constantly evolving international trade landscape, his appointment will no doubt evolve better strategy that will reposition NCS for higher feats and targets for the advancement of the country. Some major feats he accomplished include; coordinating Customs bilateral and multilateral trade relations and supervising the implementation of emerging issues within Customs including Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Data Analytics and Environment Protection. Adeniyi who was head of research and policy, was responsible for the development of the Strategic Plan for Customs, and the coordination of Monitoring and Evaluation of its Plan implementation.

As it is, NCS mandate remains Nigeria’s trade facilitator and thus, the Acting CG and his team must have eyes on expanding the nation’s exportation of goods, in order to generate more foreign exchange.

Another feat before Adeniyi is putting in place adequate strategies to tackle smuggling and smugglers who have deployed sophisticated means to perpetrate their illegal trade. At a time when Nigeria’s economic resources are dwindling and the nation in a dire strait of creating avenues for economic fortune, the appointment of Adeniyi who understands the terrain comes handy. It is expected that he will deploy his vast experience into the job for wealth creation and ensures that revenues coming from this sector is well channelled. Mr. Adeniyi was until his appointment, on Monday June 19, 2023, the DCG in charge of the Strategic Research and Policy of the NCS.